Georgia’s Government: The Legislative Branch

1. Georgia’s Government: The Legislative Branch February 25, 2013

2. The Legislative Branch • ________________ power is granted to the ____________ branch by the state constitution • The law-making body (legislature) in Georgia is called the __________________ • The Assembly can pass laws on any issue not __________ to it by the ____________________ • It can also _________ state laws or _________ them • Legislation (laws) can be passed on _______, education, and property • Other subjects dealt with include ____________, imprisonment, public health, and marriage and divorce

3. Members of the General Assembly • The General Assembly is _____________ (divided into two houses or chambers) • One chamber is the ___________________________, the other is the __________ • There are ______ members of the ________ and ____ members of the __________ • To be a state senator, a person must be at least __________ old, a citizen of the U.S., and a citizen of Georgia for at least ___ years. • To be a representative, a person must be at least ______________ old, and meet all of the other requirements of senators

4. Election to the General Assembly • Members of the General Assembly are elected by popular _____ (by the ________) to ____________ • There is ____ limit on the number of terms they can serve • Each of these members is elected by voters in a House or Senate __________ • Each district contains about the same _________ of voters

5. General Assembly Sessions • The General Assembly meets each year for a ____________ session beginning on the 2nd Monday in __________ • Breaks and recesses do not count towards the 40 days, so they usually finish sometime in mid-March • Either the House or Senate can _________ and pass bills, and all bills must be _________ by both before being sent to the governor for signing

6. Leadership in the General Assembly • The _________________ presides over the state _________ • Members of the ________ elect a ____________________________ as their presiding officer • The presiding officers determine the order of __________, control _________, enforce ______ of procedure, and order votes • They also appoint ______________ and assign bills to the committees

7. The Committee System • Members of the House and Senate are organized into ______________ • ____ bills must be ______________ by a House or Senate committee before they can be voted on by the entire House or Senate • ____________ committees are ______________, lasting from one session to the next • ___________ committees are organized for a special task and only last _____ session

8. How a Bill becomes a Law • _____ representative or senator can propose a bill for consideration (a ______ is a proposed ______) • There are ___ steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia • For a bill to become a law in Georgia, the _______ version must be passed in ______ chambers of the General Assembly • If they cannot agree on one version, a committee proposes a _______________ bill which is then sent to be voted on

9. Steps to becoming a law • 1) a ____________ is written and given a number • 2) it is assigned to a House ____________ • 3) It is ___________ by the committee • 4) If passed by the committee, it goes to the _____ House of Representatives • 5) If __________ by the House, it is sent to the Senate • 6) It is assigned to a Senate _____________ • 7) If passed, it goes to the ____ Senate for a vote • 8) If passed in the same form by the Senate, it is then __________ by presiding officers • 9) It is sent to the governor who can _____ or _____ the bill • If signed, the bill becomes a _____. If vetoed, it is sent back. The General Assembly can override the veto by a _____ vote of ______ chambers and it will become a law

10. Questions: • 1) Which branch of government has law-making power? • 2) What is the legislature called in Georgia? • 3) What are some examples of subjects that legislation can be passed on? • 4) What does bi-cameral mean? • 5) What are the two chambers of the General Assembly? • 6) How many members are in each chamber? • 7) What are the qualifications to be a senator in Georgia? • 8) What are the qualifications to be a representative in Georgia? • 9) How long is a term for a senator or representative?

11. Questions: • 1) Which branch of government has law-making power? • 2) What is the legislature called in Georgia? • 3) What are some examples of subjects that legislation can be passed on? • 4) What does bi-cameral mean? • 5) What are the two chambers of the General Assembly? • 6) How many members are in each chamber? • 7) What are the qualifications to be a senator in Georgia? • 8) What are the qualifications to be a representative in Georgia? • 9) How long is a term for a senator or representative?

12. More Questions: • 10) When does the General Assembly meet? • 11) Who presides over the state senate? • 12) Who presides over the house of representatives? • 13) Describe the duties of the presiding officers. • 14) What is a standing committee? • 15) What is an interim committee? • 16) What is a bill? • 17) How are bills proposed? • 18) How can a bill become a law in Georgia? • 19) What happens if the senate and house cannot agree on a version of a bill?

13. More Questions: • 10) When does the General Assembly meet? • 11) Who presides over the state senate? • 12) Who presides over the house of representatives? • 13) Describe the duties of the presiding officers. • 14) What is a standing committee? • 15) What is an interim committee? • 16) What is a bill? • 17) How are bills proposed? • 18) How can a bill become a law in Georgia? • 19) What happens if the senate and house cannot agree on a version of a bill?

14. More Questions: • 20) List the steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia • 21) What happens if the governor vetoes a bill? • 22) How many votes are needed for a vetoed bill to become a law?

15. More Questions: • 20) List the steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia • 21) What happens if the governor vetoes a bill? • 22) How many votes are needed for a vetoed bill to become a law?